What do Paintings do in Elden Ring?

Elden Ring is a massive game with plenty of secrets and puzzles. One of those secrets lies within the Paintings found around Elden Ring's large open-world map. The easiest way to understand the purpose of these Paintings is to think of them as scavenger hunts.

By looking at the location depicted in the Paintings, and the item's description, players should be pointed in the direction of an area on Elden Ring's map. What makes it a bit trickier, though, is that the reward for solving the Painting's puzzle doesn't necessarily lie at the location depicted but rather the location from which the Painting itself was painted.

Where can you find Paintings?

There isn't much rhyme or reason to where Paintings are found. They can be found in structures off of main roads, like shacks and buildings, or inside major points of interest, like Stormveil Castle.

Related: What are the White Footsteps near the Coastal Cave in Elden Ring?

Paintings are only one type of obscure puzzle that players will encounter in Elden Ring. The reward for completing a Painting's puzzle will usually be worth the trouble, and it can be fun to hunt down its location by following clues.

Interested in reading more about hard-to-find items in Elden Ring? Check out Where to find the Dectus Medallion (Right) in Elden Ring on Pro Game Guides!